Poor Quality with 4:3

[2Dogs]

I'm suddenly having problems rendering an AVI file to MPEG2 in VS8.

The source file is captured DV Type 2 24bit 720x480, 4:3

I'm trying to output to NTSC 24bit, 720x480, 29.97 fps Frame-based [MPEG-2], 4:3 using a constant bitrate of 8264 kbps.

If I check the "Perform non-square pixel rendering" box I get good quality output, but the aspect ratio has been altered, "squeezed" laterally so that there is a black bar either side of the image.

If I leave the "Perform non-square pixel rendering" box unchecked, however, I get the correct aspect ratio image, but the quality is awful! There are very noticeable horizontal lines.

Any ideas on how to get around this?

[heinz-oz]

Do you see this black bar either side on your TV when playing your DVD or do you only see it on the PC?

[Trevor Andrew]

Hi

What you are describing sounds like a field order problem.

When you say ‘I'm suddenly having problems rendering’

Have you had success in the past?

Is there any reason why your frame type is Frame Based?

When you Share Create Video File select Dvd-Ntsc, this should use video studio’s default template. (do not select Mpeg 2)

The template may use Variable bit rate, if you need constant use the ‘Custom’ option or better still create your own template using the ‘Make movie Manager’

MPEG files
24 Bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Lower Field First
(DVD-NTSC), 4:3
Video data rate: 8000 kbps
LPCM Audio, 48 KHz, Stereo


Hope this Helps

Trevor

[2Dogs]

Do you see this black bar either side on your TV when playing your DVD or do you only see it on the PC?

Dear Heinz-oz, to be honest, I've just been trying to evaluate various settings as a means of achieving the highest quality output. I've only played the output on my pc.

I notice that when I uncheck the "Perform Non Square Pixel Rendering" box and create an MPEG file, it takes noticeably longer than the same process with the check box ticked, and the preview window goes black.

[jchunter]

Follow the procedure recommended in the top sticky post first to avoid problems.
Specifically, it advises:
(1) Capture in DV Type I because lots of users have had problems with type II.
(2) Capture at 8000kbps. Variable bit rate. (I had problems in VS8 using max bitrate.)
(3) The rule of thumb for field order is Upper Field First for analog video and Lower Field First for digital.
(4) Leave Non-Square Pixel rendering checked.
(5) Set properties manually at every stage of the editing process.

John

[2Dogs]

Hi

What you are describing sounds like a field order problem.

When you say ‘I'm suddenly having problems rendering’

Have you had success in the past?

Is there any reason why your frame type is Frame Based?

When you Share Create Video File select Dvd-Ntsc, this should use video studio’s default template. (do not select Mpeg 2)

The template may use Variable bit rate, if you need constant use the ‘Custom’ option or better still create your own template using the ‘Make movie Manager’

MPEG files
24 Bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Lower Field First
(DVD-NTSC), 4:3
Video data rate: 8000 kbps
LPCM Audio, 48 KHz, Stereo


Hope this Helps

Trevor

Dear Trevor,
I say "suddenly" because previously I'd mostly captured my DV footage directly to MPEG2 in order to save on both disk space and, I thought, time. I made the beginner's mistake of reading the VS8 manual and believing it.

It's probably a year or more since I worked with avi clips.

Having read the recommended procedure topics at the start of this forum, however, I realised that everything I knew was wrong! VS8 had never managed to perform a smart render on the clips in my timeline when I burnt a disk or made a disk ISO file, so the supposed time gain from direct MPEG capture was moot.

I therefore decided to experiment anew with avi clips to establish some standard settings for the best possible quality output.

When I captured my sample footage, I let VS8 figure out the settings, and it came out as frame based.

I have created two custom templates for MPEG2 output in "Make Movie Manager".

One is for constant bitrate at the DVD-VR compliant maximum bitrate of 8254kbps, and the other is the same but with variable bitrate.

I set the audio to MPEG, 48Khz, 256bit.

[2Dogs]

Follow the procedure recommended in the top sticky post first to avoid problems.
Specifically, it advises:
(1) Capture in DV Type I because lots of users have had problems with type II.
(2) Capture at 8000kbps. Variable bit rate. (I had problems in VS8 using max bitrate.)
(3) The rule of thumb for field order is Upper Field First for analog video and Lower Field First for digital.
(4) Leave Non-Square Pixel rendering checked.
(5) Set properties manually at every stage of the editing process.

John

Dear John,
thanks, I'll go over all my settings.

Re 2) I have experienced some glitches once when outputting to DVD at 8264kbps, that went away when I changed the setting to 8000.

[jchunter]

TwoDogs,
I should have added one more piece of advice: Don't ever accept Video Studio's default property settings.

I have seriously considered the possibility that some joker in the software development group implemented a random number generator to select default values.

John

[2Dogs]

Hi

What you are describing sounds like a field order problem.

When you say ‘I'm suddenly having problems rendering’

Have you had success in the past?

Is there any reason why your frame type is Frame Based?

When you Share Create Video File select Dvd-Ntsc, this should use video studio’s default template. (do not select Mpeg 2)

The template may use Variable bit rate, if you need constant use the ‘Custom’ option or better still create your own template using the ‘Make movie Manager’

MPEG files
24 Bits, 720 x 480, 29.97 fps
Lower Field First
(DVD-NTSC), 4:3
Video data rate: 8000 kbps
LPCM Audio, 48 KHz, Stereo


Hope this Helps

Trevor

Dear Trevor,
you were spot on! I'm not sure how but I managed to incorporate a "frame based" setting in my custom profile.

When I amended this to "lower field first" it sorted things out.

Thanks!

[Ken Berry]

I think that 'Frame Based' is set as the default on installation of the program. You need to change it in File > Preferences > General > Default field order.

[2Dogs]

I think that 'Frame Based' is set as the default on installation of the program. You need to change it in File > Preferences > General > Default field order.

Dear Ken,
you're right, it does default to frame based. Not too helpful most of the time!